Automobile bumper jack



Feb. 24, 1959 M. c. CASTER:

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER JACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1953 INVENTOR.

MITCHELL G- GASTER ATTORNEY Feb. 1959 M. c. CASTI'ER AUTOMOBILE BUMPERJACK 4 ,Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1953 INVENTOR. MITCHELL 6. GASTERATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1959 Filed Maioh 5, 1953 M. c. CASTER AUTOMOBILEBUMPERJACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR.

MITCHELL a. GASTE/i A T TOR/(EV M. c. cAsTER AUTOMOBILE BUMPER JACK Feb.24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 5. 1953 F/a a llul lln I INVENTOR.MITCHELL 0. OASTEI? A TTORIVE Y United States Patent F AUTOMOBILE BUMPERJACK Mitchell C. Caster, Akron, Ohio Application March 5, 1953, SerialNo. 340,617

3 Claims. (Cl. 254-99) This invention relates to lifting jacks, and inparticular relates to bumper-type lifting jacks for vehicles.

Heretofore, there has been available on the market a bumper-type liftingjack in which one leg of a tripod constitutes a housing for a screw rodwhich carries a bumper-engaging lifting member adapted to be raised andlowered by turning the screw rod. One difliculty encountered with thistype of jack has been that said casing and screw rod usually extend atan angle to the vertical and a load on the lifting member tends to flexor bend the screw rod, thereby causing a binding action between thelifting member and the rod which seriously hampers raising and loweringof the lifting member.

One object of the present invention is to provide a lifting jack of thecharacter described having improved means for preventing a load on thelifting member from flexing or bending the screw rod which carries thesame, and thereby obviating binding action between the parts which wouldotherwise prevent free-movement of the lifting member longitudinally ofthe screw rod.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting jackof the character described including a screw rod rotatably mounted in anelongated housing or hollow support, and a lifting member carried by thescrew rod in threaded connection therewith to be moved longitudinally ofthe support upon rotation of the screw rod, the improved structureincluding anti-friction means between the lifting member and saidhousing whereby a minimum of manual effort is required to rotate thescrew' rod for moving the lifting member with a load thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting jack of thecharacter described in the last paragraph, wherein the lifting memberhas a freely projecting loadengaging hook portion which is readilyremovable to make the jack more compact, as for shipping or storagepurposes, without disturbing the screw connection between the liftingmember and screw rod.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following briefdescription and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the lifting jack embodying features ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and insection, of the lifting member portion of the jack shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken substantially on the line3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 2, but illustratingparts of the jack in exploded condition.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of a lifting jack ofthe type shown in Figures 1 to 4, but illustrating a modified form oflifting member.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-section taken substantially on the line6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to the upper portion of Figure 5,illustrating another modified form of lifting mem- 2,874,935 PatentedFeb. 24, 1959 her for the same general 'type of lifting jack asdescribed above.

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-section taken substan tially on the line8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5,the numeral 10 designates a lifting jack having a lifting member 11supported in threaded connection on a screw rod 12, which is manuallyrotatably mounted to extend longitudinally within an elongated tubularsupport 13. The jack shown is of the collapsible tripod type, whereinthe support 13 constitutes a forward leg thereof, braced or supported atan upward inclination to the horizontal by a pair of rearwardlyextending legs 14, 14 pivotally connected to downturned lugs 16, 16 on ahead plate 17 welded or otherwise attached to the upper end of support13. Lengths of chain 18, 18 between adjacent legs 13 and 14, 14 limitoutward separation of the legs in the operative condition of the jack,as shown in Figure 1. Feet or base members 19 and 20, 20 are pivoted onthe lower ends of the front leg or support 13 and rear legs 14, 14,respectively, to provide requisite solid positioning of the jack onsupporting surfaces of various kinds.

For rotatably mounting the screw rod 12 within the tubular leg orsupport 13 the same may be suitably suspended from a thrust bearing 22between an enlarged head 23 on the upper end of the rod and the headplate 17, which is apertured to receive the rod. Rod 13 is restrainedagainst wobbling action by the lifting member in a manner which will beapparent later. A suitable handle 24 pivotally attached to the head 23is manually operable to rotate the screw rod.

As best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the lifting member 11 may be ofsegmental construction, including a freely projecting bumper-engaginglifting hook part 25, a nut 26, and a retaining plate 27. The nut 26,which has the screw rod 12 threaded therethrough, may be of squarehorizontal cross-section corresponding to horizontal crosssection of thetubular support 13, and has a reduced forward extension 28 protrudingthrough a longitudinally extending slot 29 in the support definingopposite inturned flanges 3t), 30 in the forward wall of the support,said extension 28 providing laterally opposite shoulders 31, 31 on thenut which slidably engage the inner faces of said flanges 3t), 30.Extension 28 is of rectangular vertical cross-section to be relativelynon-rotatably received through a correspondingly shaped slot 32 in saidretaining plate 27, which is slidably retained against the upwardlyinclined forward faces of said support flanges 3th, 30, across said slot29. Lifting hook 25 may be formed of sheet metal to provide a narrowupper web portion 33 and laterally spaced downturned sidewalls 34, 34adapted to have inner end portions thereof embrace the extension 28protruding through the plate 27 (see Figure 2). For retaining plate 27against the support flanges in this manner, aligned apertures 35 and 36,36 are provided in the nut projection 28 and walls 34, 34 of the liftinghook 25 to receive a bolt 37 therethrough, so that straight inner edges38 of the walls engage flatly against the outer face of plate 27. Thusthe three principal elements of the lifting member 25 are assembled as aunit to be in vertically slidable tongue-and-groove relation as to theforward flanges 30, 30 of the support 13, as best illustrated in Figures2 and 3. The lifting hook 25 may have a rearwardly projecting tang 39engageable between the top face of nut 28 and the upper end of the slot32 in plate 27, to make sure that the parts of the lifting member willbe held in firmly assembled relation. As best shown in Figure 2, the webportion 33 of lifting hook 25 extends forwardly of the support 13 at anupward inclination from a point of supporting engagement of tang 39 withthe top of the nut 28, so

3 7 that if t bolt 37-'lhas a loose fit in the aligned aper- EQ IF iq'qthe twins $109k; .shQWn a s bsta ia proportion of a load pressnre on thelifting hook'will be translated into rearward pressure of the inneredges as o id w l s a ai st the etai Plate 2 Thi the load on the liftinghook is "substantiallyself narratin to m int in a isi e degreefriqiotlal engagement between the retaining plate andlsupport flanges30,59 to assure smooth, uniform vertical move a e of h li t n emb r inoperation or use'of the lifting jack described above it 'is positionedin the extended condition 'shown in Figure l to have the lifting book 25of lifting member '11 under the bumper of an automotive vehicle, forexample. Next, the operator manually turns handle 24 to rotate screw rod12 in proper direction to urge the lifting member upwardly, first toengage the bumper (nOtshQ'Wn) and then to lift the vehicle, in knownmanner. Because there is a certain degree of flexibility between thelifting hook 25 and nut 26, and the load to a substantial extent beingcarried by the support 13 through the inclined retaining plate. 27,as-described, frictional binding action due to the tendency of such loadon the hook to apply rod is r'educed to a minimum. 7 The above describedjack has a further advantage of being economical to ship or store, inthat the lifting hook 25 is detachable from nut 26 upon removal of thebolt 37, thereby to obviate the projection of said hook from the support13 Swhich would otherwise occnpy a substantial space necessarilyextending the full length of ,rnoments to the nut which would flex orbend the screw the usual shipping container for the jack.

Referring to Figure'sf5 and 6 there is illustrated a porti n ofliftingjack "40 which is similar to'the jack '10 sh n inFigures 1 to 4, except,that it has incorporated therein a modified form of lifting member 41.As before a tubular support .42 of square cross-section constitutes aninclined forward leg of a tripod type of jack, as shown in Figure saidsupport having an elongated slot 143 .in the forward wall thereofdefining oppositely disposed flanges 44, 44.

The lifting member 41 may include a square nut 45 threaded on a screwrod 46, corresponding to screw rod 12, and a lifting hook having anintegral bifurcated portion 47 in sliding .tongue-and-groove connectionwith said flanges 44, laterally opposite sidewalls 48, 48 of thebifurcationembracing the nut 45 and being apcrtured to receive oppositepivot pin extensions 49, 49. In vother ,Words, and for purposes to bedescribed, the nut 45 has ga requisite degree of pivotal action withrespect to the lifting member 41, in the direction of a plane at rightangles to a laterally extending axis through the pivot pin e ten ons Thejack shown in FiguresS and 6 is operated substantiallyas before. Uponapplication of load to lifting hook 42 however, the pivotal connectionbetween the same ;and nut 45 is self-operating upon application ofbending ,or flexing stresses to the screw rod to prevent binding actiontending toretardmanual turning of the screw rod.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown another modified formof liftingmexnber 51 forra jack of the type previously described, saidlifting member having an enlargement 52 received within a channelshape'dupright support 53 and apertured for-somewhat ;loose slidin'greceptionof ascrew rod 54. Theenlargenient '52 is supported on top of a nutthreaded on screwro-d 54 and is held in axial alignment with the,;screwrod by a roller Sdbetwe'en spaced lugs 57, .57 integral with saidenlargement and extending rearwardly ,at iopposite sides of the support,said roller being in J engagement witharear wall 58 pr thesupport ashitsubstantially ,ahove the level bfan integral rwardlyextendingioadmngaging hook .59. [For preiyent'in rota tion,ofnut-55 with-respect tosrodqs4, the y gbe cylindrical with =fiat opposite. ends .60,.60

in sliding engagement with "opposite side flanges '61, '61 of support53.

In operation of the structure described in connection with Figures 7 and8 the lifting member 51 is carried vertically by the nut 55 uponrotation of screw rod 54, the roller 56 allowing such movement withoutsubstantial frictional resistance. Any possible wobbling action of thelifting member 51 under load will not be transmitted to the nut, andhence bending of the screw rod which would cause binding action betweenthe nut and the rod is thereby obviated.

Obviously features of the several forms of invention shown may beinterchanged. As an example, the roller type lifting member 51 shown inFigures 7 and 8 may be provided with the pivoted nut construction shownin Figures 5 and 6, or with the separable segmental construction shownin Figures 1 to 4, or with combinations of both of these constructions.Similarly, the lifting member 11 shown in Figures -1 to 4 may have thepivoted nut construction of Figures 5 and '6 or the separablenutconstruction shown in Figures 7 and 8.

'Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof or the-scope of the appended claims.

' ,What is claimed is:

l. A lifting jack comprising an elongated hollow support havinglaterally spaced sides and a front .wall proyided with a longitudinallyextending opening in the same, means for supportingsaid support withsaid front lyvall presented at an angle to the horizontal, a threadedpost ,r' otatably mounted on said support to extend longitudinallybetween said sides, a nut threaded on said post, alifting member havingspaced portions within said hollow support ,non-rot'atably embracinglaterally 'oppos'itesides of said nut and'to vbe non-rotatable with ,respectthereto in direction about the axis of the post, "saidmember-being ,pivotally connected to said embracing portions to pivotrelatively of the same in direction of a plane through said;axis of thepost and said opening, thereby to obviate binding action between the nutand said post with bending of the post under a load on the member, saidmember having a work-engaging hook portion extending freely outwardly ofsaid longitudinal v(apening,said spaced portions of the member havingopfpo site sides ,thereof longitudinally slidably engageable ,wi'th'saidlaterally spaced sides of said support toprevent relative rotation ofthe same and said nut about the axis of the post as the post is rotated,and means for rotating Ysaid'post' about said axis and thereby to movesaid nut and member in [either direction longitudinally of the support,said .member having portions bearing downwardly against said front wallof said support to support some offthe load onthe element. 7

'2. A lifting jack comprising anelongated hollow support having"laterally spaced sides and a front wall pro- ,vided with ,alongitudinally extending opening in the .s'ame me'ansfor supporting saidsupport with said front wan presented at an upward inclination to thehorizontal, a threaded post rotatably mounted on said support to extendlongitudinally between said sides, a nut threaded on said post, alifting member having spaced integral ,portions received within said.hollow support and embracing laterally opposite sides of said nut andto .be non-rotatable with respect thereto indirection about the axis ofthe .post, said .nut being pivotally connected to said embracingportions to pivot relatively of the sameindirection ofa plane throughsaid axis of the post and saidlopening, thereby to obviate bindingaction between the nut and said post with bending of the post under aload on the member, said member having a Work-engaging 'hoo'k portionextendinglf'reely outwardly of 'saidlongitudinal opening, said spacedportions of the member having opposite side's thereof longitudinally'slida'blyen' gageable with said latefally'spaced sides of "said supportto prevent relative rotation" of the same and" said nut nemesis aboutthe axis of the post as the post is rotated, and means for rotating saidpost about said axis and thereby to move said nut and lifting member ineither direction longitudinally of the support, said member havingportions bearing downwardly against said inclined front wall of saidsupport to support some of the load on the memher and thereby to relievea corresponding degree of the load on said nut.

3. A lifting jack comprising an elongated hollow sup port havinglaterally spaced sides and a front wall provided with a longitudinallyextending opening in the same, means for supporting said support withsaid front wall presented at an angle to the horizontal, a threaded postrotatably mounted on said support to extend longitudinally between saidsides, a nut threaded on said post, a lifting member having spacedportions within said hollow support non-rotatably embracing laterallyopposite sides of said nut and to be non-rotatable with respect theretoin direction about the axis of the post, said nut being pivotallyconnected to said embracing portions to pivot relatively of the same indirection of a plane through said axis of the post and said opening,thereby to obviate binding action between the nut and said post withbending of the post under a load on the member, said member having awork-engaging hook portion extending freely outwardly of saidlongitudinal opening, said spaced portions of the member having oppositesides thereof longitudinally slidably engageable with said laterallyspaced sides of said support to prevent relative rotation of the sameand said nut about the axis of the post as the post is rotated, andmeans for rotating said post about said axis and thereby to move saidnut and member in either direction'longitudinally of the support, a loadon said member thereby through said nut tending to bend said post, saidmember having portions bearing downwardly against said front wall ofsaid support to support some of the load on the member, saidlongitudinal opening being defined by opposite inturned flanges on saidpost, and said member having longitudinally extending grooves slidablyreceiving said inturned flanges of the lifting element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceMay 2,

